ASTM_D_6285_-_99_2012e1.pdf

Designation:D628599(Reapproved 2012)1Standard Guide forLocating Abandoned Wells1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6285;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1NOTEEditorial changes were made throughout in February 2012.INTRODUCTIONThis guide for locating abandoned wells,provides general procedures and suggestions foridentifying the locations of wells that are installed for the purposes of oil and gas exploration orproduction,or for groundwater exploration,supply,monitoring,remediation,or injection,andsubsequently have been abandoned.Not all areas require documentation of such abandonment;thus,this guide has been prepared to provide direction for determining the locations of those abandonedwells.1.Scope1.1 This guide provides an approach to selecting and imple-menting a program to identify the locations of abandonedwells.This guide provides descriptions of methods to be usedas starting points in the search for these locations.It is notintended to be a step-by-step procedure to conduct the searchprogram.1.2 The described methods are approaches that have beenused at many sites in the past.Other methods may beappropriate.Typically,several approaches are used to obtainacceptable confirmation of well locations.This guide is notlimited to specific wells.The method chosen should beappropriate for the size of the area being searched and the typeof well being located.Some well types and constructionmaterials may preclude their detection by any of the methodsdescribed.1.3 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor series of options and does not recommend a specific courseof action.This guide cannot replace education and experienceand should be used in conjunction with professional judgment.1.4 This guide does not purport to address all aspects ofexploration and site safety.It is the responsibility of the user ofthis guide to establish appropriate safety and health practicesand determine the applicability of regulatory limitations beforeits use.1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of informationor a series of options and does not recommend a specific courseof action.This document cannot replace education or experi-ence and should be used in conjunction with professionaljudgment.Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in allcircumstances.This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy ofa given professional services must be judged nor should thisdocument be applied without consideration of a projects manyunique aspects.The word Standard in the title of this documentmeans only that the document has been approved through theASTM consensus process.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D653 Terminology Relating to Soil,Rock,and ContainedFluidsD5092 Practice for Design and Installation of Ground WaterMonitoring WellsD5299 Guide for Decommissioning of Groundwater Wells,Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices,Boreholes,and OtherDevices for Environmental Activities3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of common technical termsin this standard,refer to Terminology D653.4.Significance and Use4.1 Millions of oil and gas wells,water supply wells,andwells installed for environmental monitoring and remediation1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rockand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater andVadose Zone Investigations.Current edition approved Feb.15,2012.Published December 2012.Originallyapproved in 1998.Last previous edition approved in 2005 as D6285 99(2005).DOI:10.1520/D6285-99R12E1.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 purposes,have been abandoned.The need to determine thelocations of these abandoned wells is based on safety andthreats to the environment.Improperly constructed or aban-doned wells may pose a safety threat to humans and animals,may be sources of brines and other undesirable fluids comingto the surface,may be conduits for transport of contaminationfrom the surface to the substrate,or may cross-contaminatewater-bearing zones in the subsurface.All states do not requiredocumentation of the abandonment of wells and may not havespecific requirements for abandonment procedures.5.Methods for Locating Abandoned Wells WhoseLocations Have Been Recorded,Observed,or Markedat the Surface5.1 Records SearchInformation regarding the potentiallocation,type,age,method of abandonment,and other perti-nent information